Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-14
THE ANDOyER TRIAL.
Statements of Professors Harris, Tucker.
IIinCks md IhnrChilI.

respondents each read a statement in re-
ply to the charges preferred against them.
Prof J l.. Tucker said that he accepte ed
for himself as did those who would fol-
low him, the defense made by Prof. Smyth
on all the points equally applicable to all
the Respondents. For himself he said
MY defence is twofOld. 1t covers my
personal and my official relations to the
creed. | answer, first, that the theology
of Progressive Orthodoxy is a natural
and legitimate outcome of the creed of the
seminary, especially on the point of great
est contenton-that of probation for all
men under the gospel The five professors
are all alumni of the seminary Two of
them were called directly from studying
to teaching there. The other three,
among them myself, were called from the
active duties of the pastorate. For myself
it is absolutely true that am conscious
of holding the gospel truth in no other
spirit and with no other conclusion than
that which held in my active ministry
| cannot believe that this present attempt
represents the alumni, for | remember
that when attempts were made at regu-
larry constituted alumni meetings to or
game movements like the present they
ANONYMOUSLY failed"
IfAndover seminary was originated to
oppose anything, it was to oppose Unta-
rians. Yet the doctrine of salvation bv
the light of nature, which our prosecutors
insist that the creed teaches, was, when
the creed was made, a Unitarian argu-
ment, and every professor Is pledged to
oppose the Unitarian and Universalist
theories The Interpretation which our
opponents insist shall he put upon the
9r il. l,,t nt,1t -l,, 1t, /
share in the blessings of grace are ever
etfectually called. According to this in
depreciation, by illogical result, all infants
and the mass of the heather are lost If
this is the true Interpretation of the creed
it is to be taught | am to teach my
pupils to preach it. Suppose they preach
It, what better means can they take to
build up Universaism -
81 confess he said, "that when this
hearing began was solictOus for its re-
suit upon the accused. But now. since
have heard our accusers, my solicItude is
chiefly for the seminary"
Prof. Harris said that when he accepted
the chair of Abbot ProtessOrshp at An
dover the issues which are now involved
mad not arisen, and he had no intmation
that he was obliged to give a distinct and
definite statement as to the conditions
under which all men should eventually he
saved The creed was silent on the sub
believed that it was only his duty to con.
slider the matter in the best light he could
lind in the general principles of the creed
aud the scripture. On becoming Il III
lessor he brought his misgivings to the
attention OF the board of visitor, and they
told him that 1t would only be necessary
to consider the creed rs stating the zen
eral principles of the scriptures. Refer
ing to the founders of the seminary, who
formulated the creed, he SAID that they
differed as much among themselves as
the complainants, in this case differed
from the respondents. For his Fart he
considered the Westminster Cathechsm
as a higher authority than the creed. He
held that the creed was net inconsistent
with the conviction that all men will at
some time have some opportunity to put
themselves into the relations with Christ
which are requisite for salvation. He
criticized the government theory of the
atOncment, not on the ground of error.
INT Of lnadequacy. 1t teaches that ChristS
suffering made atOnement for mans sin.
\ ct there remained also the necessity
that man shall put himself into the posi-
ton to avail himself of the atonement.
He denied that the professors mad put the
Incarnation in place of the atonement.
They had rather put it forward in such d
way as to throw light on the atonement.
The organic union of Christ with human
ltN helps us to understand the nature and
efficiency of the atOnement. The respon-
dents IN this case claim that they are in
the line with that great rational and
spiritual movement which has made so
much progress in the last 30 years. None
OF the professors remain at AndOVer tX
cept at pecuniary sacrifice, and they
were concerned only for the welfare of the
seminary. The creed had not been altered,
but it was not intended, while guarding
against retrOgrade movements, to bar
whatever progress should be made in the
direction of advancing Christian lntelli-
gence and feeling UnlversaliSm thriVeS
upon the errors of orthodoxy.
Prof. Ilincks stated that he had been
inirusted with the work of eXpounding
and interpreting the scriptures AT the sem
mary. He said that he had never reached
conclusions at variance with the princi-
piles of the creed. The extreme desire of
the compliments to do justice to the
dead was some excuse for their failure to
DO full justice to the living. Those who
eXpOunded the scriptures in the seminary
are to explain the scriptures according
to their own convictions, arising ont o.
personal study and thought The provis-
ION made for this by the founders showed
that they expected the Interpreters to be
progressive and to keep abreast of con
tempCraneous biblical criticism.
Argument by counsel followed on the
case of Prof. Churchill, and it was agreed
that Prof. Churchill could read his paper
without waving his claim to appeal from
the jurisdiction. He maintained that
every creed is a monument of mans i'm
perfection, and he never could relnqui-h
his right of thought to the demands of
any creed. No creed can fully state any
theology for theology is science, and
like all sciences, must be developed III con
necton with changing data. He sincere
ly believed that whatever notifications
OF Uhe faith the professors at the seminary
are identified with are in accordance with
the D inciples of-the creed and the scrip.
lures. Prof. Churchill Introduced one of
the few humorous incidents of The trial.
by saying that he had been cOndemueu
Tor teaching The pronunciation of "ShtOl
with Il ClrCumtleX accent. This, he said.
was mistake. He had always taught
the pupils to pronounce the word rs it
should he pronounced, with the down
ward infection.
Thirty four Degrees Below in St. Johns
bury.
ST, JOhnsbury, VT, Jan. 9.-The Their
mometer indicated "a below zero this
morning and was at zero at , p. III.